With guitar in hand, Craig can turn any setting into an intimate affair, infusing his music and lyrics with an uncompromising humanism rarely seen in today's production-heavy climate.
Craig makes it a point to keep the relationship with his fans personal, inviting and accepting any opportunity to make his audience as much a part of the performance as he is. Don't be surprised if one day you find yourself enjoying one of Craig's renowned shows in the comfort of your own living room.
In 2012, Cardiff was nominated for a Juno Award for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo, and for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Contemporary Singer of the Year.
For more information, tour dates, and music, please visit the official Craig Cardiff site.
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Craig Cardiff's Bandcamp page
Dancing Like Pierre
Craig Cardiff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've talked about this before
And in the way that your mouth shapes the words
I could hear them a hundred times more
Turn off the tv and shut off the phone
Pretend we're not broken that we're alone
And all of the parts, the parts that weren't good
Dance just like nobody’s watching
Me I’m as proud of you as I am
I’m proud of Pierre’s famous finger
Standing up tall with feet firm in air
I’m as proud of you as I am
Turn off the tv and shut off the phone
Pretend we're not broken that we're alone
And all of the parts, the parts that weren't good
Were all of the parts that we misunderstood
Dance just like nobody’s watching
The lyrics to Craig Cardiff's "Dancing Like Pierre" seem to be about a couple who have been having circular conversations about their relationship. The singer in the song describes noticing the way their partner speaks, and wanting to hear them say the same things over and over again. They suggest shutting out the world and pretending to be alone, in order to focus on each other. They acknowledge that there were parts of their relationship that went wrong because they misunderstood each other.
The chorus, "Dance just like nobody's watching" seems to be a call to action for the couple to let go of their worries and just enjoy each other's company. The lines "Me I'm as proud of you as I am / I'm proud of Pierre's famous finger / Standing up tall with feet firm in air" seem to be a comparison between the couple's relationship and the famous image of Pierre Trudeau's middle finger in the air, which was seen as a symbol of defiance and independence. The singer is expressing pride in their partner for being able to stand up for themselves and their relationship.
Overall, the song seems to be about the ups and downs of a relationship, and the importance of communication and understanding. The call to "dance just like nobody's watching" is a reminder to enjoy the moment and not get bogged down in worries about the future or past.
Line by Line Meaning
Talking and talking in circles again
We keep discussing the same things over and over without making progress
We've talked about this before
This is a recurring conversation between us
And in the way that your mouth shapes the words
I can tell you've said these words before and it's becoming stale
I could hear them a hundred times more
I could literally anticipate your next words even if we repeat them for hundred times
Turn off the tv and shut off the phone
Let's create an environment that's free from distraction
Pretend we're not broken that we're alone
Let's act like everything is alright, and for the moment it's just you and me
And all of the parts, the parts that weren't good
The elements of our life, our relationship that we didn't like
Were all of the parts that we misunderstood
The parts that were difficult or confusing to us were the ones that we misinterpreted
Dance just like nobody’s watching
Do something unapologetically, without fear of judgment from others
Me I’m as proud of you as I am
I am proud of you, just like I am of some other person named Pierre
I’m proud of Pierre’s famous finger
I admire Pierre for something he did, like his epic thumb
Standing up tall with feet firm in air
Pierre stood tall and achieved something remarkable, like levitating or something
Turn off the tv and shut off the phone
Reiterating that we should create an environment free from distraction
Pretend we're not broken that we're alone
Reiterating that we should ignore the brokenness and feel like we're just two people alone in a room
And all of the parts, the parts that weren't good
Recycling the same line to help us think about our misunderstandings
Were all of the parts that we misunderstood
Reiterating that our misinterpretations have made things difficult
Dance just like nobody’s watching
Encouraging us to do something without being judged by anyone
Contributed by Brooklyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.